![St. Thomas Academy goaltender Muzzy Donohue (1) blocked a shot on goal by Eagan High School forward Ethan Pearson (21) in the third period. St. Thomas Academy won 4-1. ] RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER ¥ renee.jones@startribune.com The Section 3AA boys' hockey championship of Edina verses Eagan in Edina, Minn., on Thursday, February 28, 2019.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/GDOIWW7VPC757SRBCK6XQROTUU.jpg?&w=1080)
Defense has been the difference this season for St. Thomas Academy, according to co-coach Greg Vannelli.
The defense stepped up Thursday as the Cadets defeated Eagan 4-1 in the Class 2A, Section 3 boys' hockey championship at Braemar Arena in Edina.
Nico Vega scored twice and Andrew Boemer and Ryan O'Neill also scored for the top-seeded Cadets (24-3-1), who earned a third consecutive tournament berth. Senior goalies Muzzy Donohue and Wes Gervais combined to stop 34 of 35 shots on goal, as the Cadets held their opponent to one goal or none for the 17th time in 18 games.
"Those guys come together," Vannelli said of his defensemen. "It just seems like at the last second, they break up the plays."
St. Thomas Academy took a 2-0 lead in the first period on power-play goals by Boemer and Vega, after a five-minute major penalty by Eagan. Vega added a second power-play goal midway through the second period, after the Wildcats had cut the lead to one.
The victory gave St. Thomas Academy its seventh state berth in nine years. It came in the 16th and final season for Vannelli and his brother Tom, who have combined to win five state titles.
Vega said the Cadets are playing for both their outgoing coaches and for themselves.
Junior defenseman Aidan Byrne scored the lone goal for third-seeded Eagan (20-8), which was looking for its first state tournament berth since 2014.
